Variety of Anemone plant named ‘Pretty Lady Emily’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Anemone  plant named ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ having a compact growth habit and large light pink-colored semi-double flowers.

Botanical classification: Anemone hupehensis.

Varietal denomination: ‘Pretty Lady Emily’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Anemone plant known by the varietal name ‘Pretty Lady Emily’. The new variety was discovered in August of 2005 in a selected breeding program in Fukushima, Japan. The purpose of the breeding program was to produce a selection of Anemone varieties in a range of flower colors with compact growth habits that are freely flowering. The new variety was selected from a cross of Anemone hupehensis varieties ‘Japonica’ (female parent, unpatented) and ‘Plena’ (male parent, unpatented). The plant habit of the new variety is similar to its parents, but the new variety differs from its parents in increased flower size, improved flower color, a compact growth habit, and increased flower production. Further, ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ has a similar flower color to Anemone hupehensis variety ‘Japonica Splendens’ (unpatented), but differs in flower height, the number of flowers produced, and the new variety exhibits double flowers. Additionally, ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ has semi-double flowers, whereas Anemone hupehensis variety ‘Pretty Lady Diana’ (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 12/800,741) has single flowers. ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ has light pink flowers, whereas ‘Pretty Lady Diana’ has bi-colored flowers with deep rose pink and light pink. The new variety was first asexually reproduced in October of 2005 by root cuttings in Fukushima, Japan. The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true to type through successive propagations.

The following traits also distinguish ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ as a new and distinct cultivar from other Anemone varieties known to the breeder:

-   -   1. Compact growth habit;     -   2. Flower height;     -   3. Quantity of flowers produced;     -   4. Flower size;     -   5. Flower color; and     -   6. Double flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the new variety, with the color being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the plant; and

FIGS. 2 and 3 are close-up photographs of the flowers of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the new cultivar. The data which defines these characteristics was collected after the new variety was grown from plugs propagated via tissue culture at 18 weeks. The plugs were planted directly in 21 cm diameter pots in Hillegom, The Netherlands outside in week 20, 2009. The data was collected in week 38, 2009 under natural daylight. Color references are primarily to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of the Royal Horticultural Society of London.

PLANT

-   Height: Approximately 42 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 40 cm. -   Vigor: Good; plants produce up to 35 flower stems. -   Roots:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 14 days at 20° C. -   Time to finish a flowered plant: About 16 weeks in a 21 cm     container. -   Rooting habit and description: Roots are light brown and freely     branching with fine root hairs present. -   Branching habit: Caudex, basal foliage with a separate flower stem     arising from the base. -   Basal shoot:     -   -   Length.—Average of 36 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 3 mm.         -   Color.—144B; shaded 59A at the base.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Internodes: None present; at approximately 20 cm the new variety     produces a group of leaves and then flowers. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Single, trifoliate.         -   Size of leaf.—Length: Average of 7.5 cm. Width: Average of             4.2 cm.         -   Shape of leaf.—Basal foliage has a single petiole with             trifoliate foliage.         -   Shape of apex.—Acute.         -   Shape of base.—Acute.         -   Aspect.—Horizontal to slightly above horizontal.         -   Margin.—Toothed; serrate to occasionally doubly serrate.         -   Texture.—Glabrous.         -   Color.—Young leaves: Upper surface: 137C. Lower surface:             147B. Mature leaves: Upper surface: 139A. Lower surface:             147B.         -   Petiole.—Length: Average of 1.2 cm. Diameter: Average of             2.5 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: 144B.         -   Veins.—Venation type: Reticulate. Color: Upper surface:             147B. Lower surface: 147B.

FLOWER

-   Bud:     -   -   Stage of opening when described.—Sepals cracking open.         -   Shape.—Globular.         -   Diameter.—Average of 12 mm.         -   Length.—Average of 12 mm.         -   Color.—186D. -   Natural flowering season: Overwintered plants will flower from early     July until late August or early September, spring planted plants     will flower from mid-August until mid-September or early October. -   Flower type and habit: Double flowers with 2 to 4 flowers per     flowering stem. -   Number of flowers per inflorescence: From 2 to 4 flowers per     flowering stem. -   Inflorescence height: Average of 5 cm. -   Inflorescence diameter: Average of 11 cm. -   Fragrance: None present. -   Calyx:     -   -   Diameter.—Average of 5.5 cm.         -   Depth.—Average of 1 cm.         -   Sepals.—Number per calyx: 24. Length: Average of 2 cm.             Width: Average of 1.4 cm. Aspect: Lying flat or slightly             reflexed. Apex: Obovate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Smooth;             entire. Texture and appearance: Smooth and satiny. Color:             When opening: Upper surface: Inner: 75C, shaded 74C. Outer:             143C, edged 59A. Lower surface: 145B. Fully opened: Upper             surface: Inner: 76B, shaded 74C. Outer: 143C, edged 74C.             Lower surface: Inner 76B, shaded 74C. Outer: 143C, edged             74B. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length.—7-12 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 1.8 mm.         -   Aspect.—Vertical.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—144A. -   Pedicels:     -   -   Length.—Average of 19-20 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average of 2.5 mm.         -   Aspect.—Vertical.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—144A. -   Disease resistance: Good. -   Temperature tolerance: Good, up to +35° C. -   Typical and observed lasting quality: Medium to good; average of 7     days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:     -   -   Number per flower.—More than 240.         -   Filament.—Length: Approximately 7 mm. Diameter: Less than 1             mm. -   Anthers: Shape: Ellipsoid. Length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Color: 17C.     -   -   Pollen.—Color: 17C. Amount: Plentiful. -   Pistils:     -   -   Number per flower.—More than 180.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.9 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.5 mm. Color: 157B.         -   Stigma color.—144B. -   Seed/fruit production: None observed to date. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Anemone plant named ‘Pretty Lady Emily’ as shown and described herein. 